BigBendFishing.Net

Weather offshore has moved fishing back a day, but the 2019 Emerald Coast Blue Marlin Classic is underway in Sandestin. We have 80 boats fishing and more than $1.8 million on the line. Betting is still open until the 7 am start on Friday.

Scales open on Saturday and Sunday evenings at the Baytowne Marina. It's open to the public if anyone wants to come over and watch the weigh-ins. Blue marlin must measure 110 inches (LJFL) and we usually have a couple 500-plus-pounders weighed, along with triple-digit yellowfin and some big wahoo and dolphin.

To follow the action and look at the photo galleries, visit: www.fishecbc.com

17th annual ECBC is a wrap. Only one blue marlin weighed, but it was significant. Swept billfish division and most optionals, giving Team It Just Takes Time a $596,025 payout. That's among the top single team payouts ever recorded in Gulf big-game events. It was also the first blue boated on the new-to-him 62 Viking by owner/angler Nick Pratt and just the second he's caught. Not bad for beginner's luck.

In the unofficial "It pays to play" division, Squid Row won nearly $85,000 for a 24-pound wahoo because of optional jackpot entries.

He just paid for 30% of his boat.
Nice haul!

Juan says he wants wants to see the real pictures from the tournament-all the contestants!

Srbenda wrote:He just paid for 30% of his boat.
Nice haul!

Wishful thinking probably by the owner but more like 10% for a 62 Viking.

It was more than $28K to enter across the board, plus fuel, dockage, crew, etc. Not a cheap hobby by any means.

And I know which contestants Juan is referring to. Sandestin is a PG event. The Miss Billfish bikini contest will be held at the Blue Marlin Grand Championship next month.

Look forward to the results of that one! Thanks for keeping us up to date.

What is the largest boat entering this thing?

I keep hoping Frank and Eddie on the Fa La Me (92' Viking) make their way to the gulf sometime soon... but they love their Atlantic/Caribbean waters way too much

A Work of Art is a 92 Viking. Relentless Pursuit is a 95 Jim Smith. Both are regulars on the Gulf circuit. Average length of boats fishing is 68 feet, I'd say.